A province that has understood since around 2010 that the way people work is not a project, not a renovation, not a trend to follow — but the operating system of the organisation as a whole. A province that recognised early on that work is not about square metres, but about maturity, trust and direction. And that the work environment is ultimately a choice about identity, culture and societal impact.

Since the start of Gelders Werken, our collaboration has been a shared evolution rather than a sequence of isolated programmes. The transition from five buildings to one was not a real estate exercise, but a movement towards one provincial organisation, one way of working, one shared rhythm.

With Working Where It Works, hybrid working took shape as a conscious choice, aligned with responsibility, vitality and autonomy. And now, fifteen years later, the province once again finds itself at a logical turning point. Not to reinvent everything, but to continue building on the layers that have grown over time.

Gelderland does not ask: “What will our next workplace concept be?” But rather: “How do we remain a province in which work, people and environment continue to reinforce one another?” This question has run as a common thread throughout the collaboration. And it is precisely here that work is now continuing: through the recalibration of the work concept, the deepening of the organisational data layer, and the further development of Corporate Services in light of the years ahead.

This is not a story about change. It is a story about continuity, vision and deliberate development. About how a province sees work as a strategic capability. And how we have been able to contribute to that development for fifteen years.

Looking back, one does not see a series of completed projects, but layers that have taken shape over time.

• Gelders Werken set the tone: a province that consciously chose autonomy, trust and space. The transition from five buildings to one made visible what had already been developing within the organisation: greater cohesion, less fragmentation, and one recognisable work environment for the province as a whole.

• By the time Working Where It Works was introduced, a solid foundation was already in place. This made it possible to explore and apply hybrid working without the reflexes often seen elsewhere. No panic, no hype, but considered choices that matched the organisation’s stage of development.

What characterises Gelderland is this constant movement: the organisation continues to develop, even when there is no immediate pressure to do so. This is precisely what makes the development calmer, more deliberate and more sustainable.

Strategy & direction

• Development of the vision behind Gelders Werken
• Strategic design of the transition from five buildings to one
• Co-creation of Working Where It Works
• Recalibration of the current work concept, including scenarios, effect domains and personas

Data & insight

• Occupancy measurements
• Document and data reviews
• Multi-year trend analyses
• WoW research and behavioural data
• Development of an integrated data foundation for workplace, behaviour and collaboration

Organisation & behaviour

• Application of the V+C mechanism as a driver for development
• Strengthening Corporate Services in rhythm, integration and proactivity
• Executive team support and strategic decision-making frameworks
• Development of a learning-oriented, reflective organisational culture

Workplace & design

• Frameworks for generic provisions and tailored solutions
• Translation of vision into spatial use and conceptual choices
• Balance between hybrid work processes, collaboration, focus and team dynamics

The Province of Gelderland demonstrates that developing work and the work environment requires time, consistency and sustained attention. By not waiting for systems to fail, but by continuously reflecting and adjusting. By making choices that align with values and context. And by continuing to invest inmaturity, vitality and collaboration.